Hi, I am thinking of adding a second bike to my garage (my primary bike is a Ducati Scrambler, which I have ridden for over 12,000 km in the last two years). My primary use case for the second bike is that it should be city-friendly, lightweight, capable of handling a pillion for city commutes, and still be fun to ride with good handling in the twisties (for quick breakfast rides, though the Scrambler will handle most of those). I have shortlisted the Duke 160 and 200. The new 200 now has the same weight savings as the 160, and both bikes are only ₹18,000 apart. I have test ridden the 160 multiple times and found it to be smooth (unlike a typical KTM), with decent torque in the low to mid rev range and a step up in power post 6,000 RPM for some fun. I haven’t been able to test ride the new 200 yet. I have been told that it feels more crude in comparison, requires higher revs to perform well, heats up quickly, and has some vibrations. Which bike would suit my use case better?

Autocar India

•1h

Purely from a price and fuel economy standpoint, its the 350cc Triumph Speed 400 that has the advantage over the other 400-odd cc machines you've shortlisted but there's more to choosing between bikes than just these two factors. The Harley-Davidson X440T is one of very few long-stroke, air-cooled, large-capacity engines available today and it is a genuinely likable machine to ride. It may not be as quick in outright terms as the Guerrilla and Speed but even so, it makes for a lovely city bike owing to its characterful engine paired with plush suspension and neutral ergonomics. If you want maximum thrills and don't mind lower fuel economy, the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is the one to go for. Its punchy engine and sporty chassis work wonderfully well together, although of the three it is the least comfortable machine. This is not to say the Guerrilla is an uncomfortable bike, its a taut and sporty machine and you should be prepared for that going into your purchase.The 350cc Triumph Speed 400 is a bike that's in between the two, amalgamating a quick engine and good handling, although its neither as characterful as the Harley bike nor as fun as the Royal Enfield bike. Service cost should largely be on par for all three and we'd advise you to speak to your nearest authorised dealer for each as well as take a test ride of all three so that you make an informed decision.

Autocar India

•14h

Addressing the two single-cylinder machines first, between the 399cc KTM 390 Adventure and 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400 XC, the KTM bike is sure to be the more fun and capable machine. Its engine is much more powerful, its suspension much more capable and it fits the brief better for your needs than the Triumph bike. One area where the 390 Adventure will not be as good as the Scrambler 400 XC is city manners, because its engine feels buzzy and frankly unhappy at lower revs and its large windscreen also blocks some cooling wind at predominantly slower city speeds. Now coming to the BMW F 450 GS, this is a machine that could be your one bike to do it all with its twin-cylinder engine, capable suspension and comfortable ergonomics. However, we still haven't spent enough seat time on the small GS - the first ride event was a rather rushed one - and BMW bikes are notorious for being expensive to own and maintain. Then there's also the fact that the F 450 GS is based on an all-new platform and its long-term reliability still remains a question mark. Our recommendation would be the 399cc KTM 390 Adventure of the three bikes you've chosen but should you decide to go for the GS instead, we'd advise you to at least defer your purchase by six months so that you have more real-world information on the GS and then make an informed decision.

Autocar India

•15h

While the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 may wear dual-purpose tyres, its hardly the ideal machine to take off-roading. Sure, it can tackle a gravelly rough road or a hard-packed trail but beyond that, it will feel out of its element. Think of the Guerrilla as a roadster that doesn't shy away from bad roads when you encounter them but you shouldn't actively go out seeking them. On the flip side, it is going to be fun to ride on the highway and inside the city with its torquey engine and sporty chassis - especially the Apex variant with its more committed riding position and grippier Vredestein Centauro ST tyres. On the other hand, the 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400 X will be more of a jack of all trades sort of bike and will be a great deal more capable off-road. Things to keep in mind here: this Triumph bike has a tall 835mm seat height (a significant 55mm more than the Guerrilla) and its downsized 349cc engine will feel much mellower in comparison to the Guerrilla's punchy 452cc single. While the Scrambler is a decent handling road bike, it cannot match the sportier Guerrilla's handling characteristics and if you spend your time predominantly on the road, the Royal Enfield bike is definitely the better choice. You need to decide whether you're actually going to venture off-road on a routine basis as well as considering the performance they have to offer and then, take a call between these two machines. To help make a decision, a test ride of both would be advisable.

Autocar India

•6d

Depending on your riding style, there are multiple different options to choose from in the segment you're looking at. If you're looking for a quick and sporty machine, then the 350cc Triumph Speed 400, KTM 390 Duke and Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 make good sense because they have energetic performance as well as good comfort (the KTM bike will be a little less comfy than the Triumph bike in this one regard, but will have more performance). On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you prefer to ride in an unhurried fashion, then look no further than the Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350, Honda CB350 models and Triumph Speed T4. These bikes have great comfort and should also be reliable in the long run.If you want something that prioritizes comfort and utility over all else, then an adventure bike is the way to go. You have the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, TVS Apache RTX 300 and KTM 390 Adventure models (with both 350cc and 399cc motors, depending on your needs and budgetary restrictions) in this class. In our opinion, as an all-rounder, nothing can match the versatility of the Himalayan and if you're comfortable with its size, this is definitely an option worth considering. As always, first decide what form factor appeals to you the most and will suit your usage best and then accordingly take test rides based on that before making your decision.

Autocar India

•1d

In the relaxed neo-retro space, you've already ridden the TVS Ronin and the Honda CB350 H'ness, that are two of the best bikes available in the class. We would also recommend you look at the Royal Enfield Bullet / Classic 350 because these bikes still remain the benchmark in the class, in our opinion. Especially since you've mentioned you're a heavier person and carry a pillion regularly. The Classic and Bullet both have lovely seating comfort, sorted suspension and neutral ergonomics. Pair that to a torque-rich engine and lovely fit and finish and you have a concoction that's hard to top - unless you're looking for more performance, that is. In that case, the 350cc Triumph Speed T4 makes a good case for itself although do bear in mind, it isn't as large a machine as the Honda bike or Royal Enfield 350s and could feel cramped for a larger rider as well as pillion. If you're open to considering ADVs, the Hero Xpulse 210 makes a compelling case for itself and will offer you more comfort and fuel economy than any of the machines listed above. Take a test ride of these bikes and compare them with your notes of previous test rides to see which one you like best before you make a decision.

Autocar India

•1d

The Royal Enfield Guerrilla comes with a 452cc engine, whereas the Triumph Scrambler 400 X now comes with a 349cc engine so its no surprise that the Triumph didn't feel as sprightly in comparison. However, for your usage, should you be willing to sacrifice some pep, the 350cc Scrambler 400 X is actually a great all-rounder. Especially since you're a novice and want to get into off-roading. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is a great bike but we'd advise you to not consider this bike, at least not if you plan to start your off-roading journey with it. At 196kg, the Himalayan is a heavy machine and with its fuel tank full, it also feels rather top heavy, which could get challenging for a beginner to manage at crawling off-road speeds. However, for city commuting and highway journeys, this Royal Enfield bike will be quite nice - its only off-roading where its weight will be a serious deterrent.The 350cc KTM 390 Adventure would be a good middle-ground option between the two aforementioned bikes - in theory, at least. Its lighter than the Himalayan and has more power than the Scrambler. A test ride should shed more light on whether this KTM bike is the one for you. Since you said you're looking to get into off-road riding, we'd be remiss if we didn't recommend the Hero Xpulse 210 to you. Now, the Xpulse is definitely a smaller and slower machine than all the machines listed above but if you genuinely want to hone your craft and get better at off-road riding, there's genuinely no better place to start than here. City commuting is another strength of the Xpulse, although on the highway, its engine feels a little stressed post 100kph. If you don't mind compromising on outright performance on the highway, then the Xpulse will be a good option for you. Some other benefits of choosing the Xpulse would be that it returns excellent fuel economy - much higher than all other options - and it costs much less to buy too.You need to evaluate your priorities and make an informed decision after test riding all three bikes. Best of luck!